Chapter 5
Twenty minutes later they were back at Scully's apartment.
"So, home sweet home." He said as he walked into her apartment with the help of Scully.
"Bed or couch?"
"Couch." He was tired and a little out of breath.
Scully gently lowered him down, propping his feet up. She began massaging his shoulders and then down his thighs. He hoped she didn't see his obvious reaction to her hands on him. He pulled a pillow over his lap.
"You thirsty?"
"Yes." he managed to choke out.
"I'll get you some water." Scully patted his knee and began to stand
"You look tired."
"I am a little," Scully admitted as she walked into the kitchen. She tried to ignore the ache that came with not touching him.
He turned slightly to watch her. "Scully?"
"Yeah?"
She was coming back with the glass.
"Sit down and relax." That's an order, he wanted to add, but didn't.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she set the glass down on the coffee table in front of him, and sat down in the arm chair.
"Some TV?"
It hurt when she hadn't sat beside him. "Yeah. Sure. Fine. Whatever."
Scully didn't understand what she did wrong. She flipped on the TV and put it to a sci fi channel that was running old movies.
"You don't have to suffer through these, Scully. Watch a love story or something."
"It's okay."
He smiled that she would do that for him. "I'll sit up if you come sit over here with me."
She sat beside him, wrapping the blankets a little snugger around him and leaning against the couch.
He tugged her head down on to his lap. "You rest."
She started to protest but her exhaustion was winning out. "Don't wanna hurt you," she muttered.
"You won't." He assured her. "Please?"
"Okay...only if you promise you'll wake me if you need something." She was already falling asleep.
He stroked her hair gently as he watched her sleep. He could get used to this. He already had gotten used to her being there.
About an hour later, Scully woke up in a cold sweat. Samuel Alboa had escaped from the hospital and was in the apartment. She couldn't get to Mulder in time to save him.
She didn't get the chance to tell Mulder she loved him…
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here." He was holding her close to him.
She unconsciously held him a little tighter as she began to sob.
He held her and rocked her back and forth. "Shhhhh...baby...I've got you."
She desperately tried to pull herself together, ashamed that she was crying in front of him. She tried to repeat to herself 'He's okay...he's not hurt...he's not dead...he's still here'
"Hey..." He took his finger and pulled her face up to his. "We don't hide things from each other." He was greeted by her tear-stained face. He pulled her back to him. "Just let it all out, baby."
She sobbed a little before slowly sitting up and wiping her face.
"Just let me comfort you." He said running a finger up her arm. Scully let him hold her as she closed her eyes and was comforted by his heart beat. They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Early the following morning though, Scully moved to the bed. She didn't have the heart to move Mulder so she left him there. He woke and was a little disoriented. He wondered where she had gone to. He figured she was in her bed...he didn't blame her. The couch was a little uncomfortable. He followed the hallway to her room and watched her sleep.
Scully heard his footfalls on the carpet and reached over to turn back the covers without turning over fully.
Mulder smiled. "Always can read my mind, can't you?"
"Don't know the half of it," she muttered sleepily.
Mulder slipped in and spooned around her. He placed his cold feet to her warm ones.
"Gaaahhh!" she yelled when she felt his cold feet.
"What is the matter with you?" He deadpanned.
"Your feet are freezing," she protested momentarily pulling her feet away.
He pretended to pout and turned away from her.
"Never mind pouting Mulder." Scully's back was turned to him so he didn't see her tears.
"Go back to sleep."
"Sadly, I'm not sleepy anymore." He said turning back to her and pulling her back against him. "I want to talk."
"About what?" Slowly she turned over.